Geelong 9.12 (66) defeat Collingwood 5.15 (45)
It’s all over at the MCG and it’s the Cats with an important win over Collingwood. It wasn’t quite the tight, exciting contest we were all hoping for, but Collingwood can go away happy with how they’ve performed despite the loss. They’ll need to address inaccuracy issues, and have again been struck down with injury, but certainly showed excellent effort.
For the Cats, it was critical that they got the win with a bit of a logjam on the ladder. They’re now up to third on the ladder, largely due to percentage: they’re one of six clubs on 20 points now – all the way down to Port in eighth.
Dangerfield (26 disposals, 12 contested possessions, seven tackles), Stewart (28 disposals, 12 contested possessions, nine marks and seven rebound 50s) and Menegola (24 disposals, 10 marks, three goals) starred for the Cats on an enjoyable Mother’s Day for Geelong fans.
Thanks for joining me for today’s AFL blog and I’ll see you back here next weekend!
Q4 04:40 Collingwood 5.15 (45) v Geelong 9.12 (66)
Am back after yet more internet trouble - but not a lot has been missed: the Pies just can’t find a way through but have been admirable in their endeavour given how fatigued they must be down two rotations. Have to agree with this: he has repelled many a likely-looking attempt on goal by the Pies.
Hard to believe Tom Stewart is playing just his 29th game. That @GeelongCats No.44 jumper must carry special powers #AFLPiesCats
— peter ryan (@petryan) May 13, 2018
Q4 10:24 Collingwood 5.15 (45) v Geelong 9.11 (65)
Some ironic cheers as Harry Taylor gives away a free-kick to Grundy. Taylor doesn’t seem to think it was a free but it was there - two arms around his chest! Still he was so incensed he rocked back and forth on the ground. Interesting stuff from Harry. Grundy finally kicks straight for the Pies.
Q4 11:19 Collingwood 4.15 (39) v Geelong 9.11 (65)
Huge leap from Ratugolea who climbs over Dangerfield and Howe for a big contested mark. Impressive stuff. He kicks beautifully and I think that might be the end of Collingwood who are starting to look fatigued. Accuracy has made a critical difference in this game.
Hoskin-Elliott has a half-chance at a soccered goal but he can only hit the post. One goal and eight points from their last nine shots at goal...
Updated
Q4 14:21 Collingwood 4.14 (38) v Geelong 8.11 (59)
Nice lead-up play by the Pies, and they hit Wells on the chest for one of the cleanest build-ups they’ve managed so far. It’s yet ANOTHER point - 14 now. Inaccuracy is one of the most frustrating things for fans.
Q4 16:21 Collingwood 4.13 (37) v Geelong 8.11 (59)
On the rebound, Dangerfield fumbles, has time to re-gather and finds Menegola for a shot at his third. This would make things tough for Collingwood - and he’s got it.
Collingwood have had plenty of chances but just can’t convert. Case in point, de Goey fires another point, and that’s 13 in total for the Pies so far.
Updated
Q4 17:49 Collingwood 4.12 (36) v Geelong 7.11 (53)
Crsip caught holding the ball by Gregson, but the inside 50 is a wayward one. Ratugolea gives away a free kick and the Pies rebound quickly. Treloar finds Wells on the run who has a chance to dribble a goal but it’s a poor miss.
Q4 19:00 Collingwood 4.11 (35) v Geelong 7.11 (53)
If BT mentions the seagulls one more time.. does anyone actually enjoy his commentary work?
Danger is back into the middle and looking ominous. In his place in the forward line is Crameri, who is looming large, and has a snap at the goals for a minor.
AFL three-quarter-time Collingwood 4.11 (35) v Geelong 7.10 (52)
Tom Stewart has taken a couple of excellent contested marks inside 50 in the last few minutes to repel Collingwood. Collingwood have had the vast majority of inside 50s in the last few minutes, but just can’t close that gap any further on the Cats. Dangerfield wins the free and milks the clock to try and repel some of the Pies’ momentum.
Ablett gets a knock on the head and looks like he could be concussed. Meanwhile - Treloar has another running shot on the goals, this time from a tight angle, but he can’t convert. Siren will sound with the Pies with the momentum but not enough scoreboard pressure to date.
Updated
Q3 02:02 Collingwood 4.10 (34) v Geelong 7.10 (52)
Crisp with a critical miss for the Pies - this one another long-running attempt on goal. That was great courage from Varcoe to set that up - ran backwards with no care for his safety, almost collided nastily with Ratugolea, but somehow won the ball and set up the Pies’ foray forward. It was a narrow miss in the end and the Pies crowd were up and about thinking it went through.
Q3 03:30 Collingwood 4.9 (33) v Geelong 7.10 (52)
Once more, Treloar almost tears the game open with a few bounces down the wing but he runs out of room and can’t hit the target inside 50. Still, the Pies are able to force the ball back forward for a mark to Crocker on a difficult angle. The ball is rushed through for a behind - with Dangerfield somehow making an appearance at full back.
Q3 05:22 Collingwood 4.8 (32) v Geelong 7.10 (52)
Finally some scrapping forward results in the Collingwood goal to Hoskin-Elliott. Just as well I’d say as the army was up in arms after De Goey was all but tackled off the ball by Blicavs (or was it Stewart? I can hardly tell them apart anymore). Just as Danger stepped up for the Cats, so has Treloar for Collingwood this quarter. Speak of the devil, he almost kicks another trademark running goal but he just misses. As harsh as it is they need him to kick that.
Updated
Q3 07:31 Collingwood 3.7 (25) v Geelong 7.10 (52)
Here’s that unfortunate concussion for Phillips as he simultaneously kicked a miracle goal. He’s now conclusively out of the game which is bad news for the Pies – they’re two down and it’ll be tough from here.
Tom Phillips somehow squirted this through the big sticks, but caught Chris Mayne's knee on the way through.#AFLPiesCats pic.twitter.com/1x2qxYqjnV
— AFL (@AFL) May 13, 2018
The Cats have a game-high lead now, and the Magpies will need to respond soon.
Q3 09:31 Collingwood 3.7 (25) v Geelong 7.9 (51)
Danger signs for Collingwood - Menegola with another snap goal, that’s two in two minutes. Starting to get on top in their forward line thanks in no small part to Dangerfield and Ablett who is also pushing forward. This time it was a wayward kick out from Howe that cost the Magpies a goal.
Q3 10:25 Collingwood 3.7 (25) v Geelong 6.8 (44)
Dangerfield has upped the tempo on his own game anyway – kicked that big goal and has laid a few excellent tackles. This time his defensive pressure allows Menegola to run through the pack and goal. Geelong starting to get back on top after Collingwood started this quarter so well.
Updated
Q3 10:54 Collingwood 3.7 (25) v Geelong 5.8 (38)
Moore is out for the afternoon apparently, and Phillips is also off being assessed for concussion. I don’t think we’ll see him back. Collingwood fans are getting restless – they reckon they’ve got the rough end of the umpiring.
So Collingwood players are grabbed around the neck and it’s play on, Geelong players duck into a contest are immediately awarded a free kick 🤔 #AFLPiesCats
— Michael Hutchinson (@xLurch) May 13, 2018
Q3 13:24 Collingwood 3.7 (25) v Geelong 5.8 (38)
Dangerfield has a free 45m out - doesn’t look like he wants to take the kick. Bit strange, not sure why he didn’t go straight back for that one. He’s had just the nine disposals today. He gets onto it - and it just sneaks in for a goal. That was an important one.
Q3 14:22 Collingwood 3.7 (25) v Geelong 4.8 (32)
Well done Chris Mayne, he manages a big spoil on Joel Selwood and Collingwood are back inside 50. Great pass from Hoskin-Elliot to De Goey, who snaps the goal. Looks like Selwood is limping – things are looking up for the Pies.
Q3 16:13 Collingwood 2.7 (19) v Geelong 4.8 (32)
Treloar almost kicks a crowd-raising goal on the run, but it’s just off target. He gets another opportunity, however, this time with the set shot from 45m out. Collingwood need this badly. He can’t deliver, however, with the ball falling short of the goals. Mayne pounces and nearly snaps a goal but it’s smothered... but Phillips somehow finds the miracle soccer for a goal!
Uh oh, it looks like he’s somehow been concussed in the process. Reckon he won’t return. Can hardly walk in a straight line! Looks like he got knocked out by the Tuohy tackle. On the plus side, Collingwood have finally got their second goal.
Updated
Q3 17:47 Collingwood 1.6 (12) v Geelong 4.8 (32)
Alright, we’re back for a (hopefully improved) quarter). Dangerfield playing out of the square on Howe, that should be a good match-up, with Howe thus far repelling Geelong’s attack on the goal. This time it’s Selwood who takes a snap out of the pack, but it’s (again) off line.
AFL half-time Collingwood 1.6 (12) v Geelong 4.7 (31)
After no goals for the majority of the quarter, Geelong somehow find two in half a minute. This time it’s Gary Ablett on the run inside 50, who chops off a wayward entry into the 50 and kicks truly. That hurts for Collingwood.
Meanwhile, apparently Gold Coast’s May will need to go straight to the tribunal for his Hawkins-esque touch on an umpire. Ouch.
Can Collingwood get just their second goal with a few seconds remaining? Sidebottom forces the ball forward but runs out of space and the ball is rushed through for a point. Just a singular goal for Collingwood in a half of footy.
Updated
Q2 01:13 Collingwood 1.5 (11) v Geelong 3.7 (25)
Menegola attempts a long shot at goal, but it falls into the hands of Mason Cox. Been really impressed by him the last few weeks. Credit to him and Collingwood for persisting in the face of so much criticism. Speaking of impressive, Jack Henry takes a nice intercept grab and it pays off for Geelong – they pump the ball forward and the ball spills from a Dangerfield tackle to Crameri, who fires a snap goal. Finally the tedium lets up.
Q2 03:45 Collingwood 1.5 (11) v Geelong 2.7 (19)
Now Grundy’s turn to miss everything for a less-than-coordinated point. De Goey wins the turnover and finds young Brown in the forward line. News filtering through from Daisy Pearce that Darcy Moore left the ground for the rooms earlier this quarter and hasn’t returned. Aren’t having the best run with injuries, the Pies. Brown, meanwhile, misses everything.
Updated
Q2 05:48 Collingwood 1.4 (10) v Geelong 2.7 (19)
Like I said, there’s been a little lull, Menegola looks to break the snooze-fest with a snap goal, but it’s off the mark. 18 minutes for no goal so far. Might need a memo sent to AFLM coaches?
This is a really shiiiiiite game #AFLPiesCats
— Amanda (@FlossyAmanda) May 13, 2018
For not the first time, I disagree with BT on this one. Your thoughts?
BT believes this was fair and shouldn't have been 50.
— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 13, 2018
Do you agree?#AFLPiesCats pic.twitter.com/5RvNe8O1E0
Q2 08:02 Collingwood 1.4 (10) v Geelong 2.6 (18)
My apologies - I’ve had some internet troubles (for the third week in a row - NBN eh?)
Lucky we haven’t had a goal since then. I’d also like to lament with you all that I just had the winner of Eurovision spoiled as I went to the Guardian homepage. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have it spoiled! I think I’m getting up in the middle of the night next time!
Right, onto the footy. We’ve had just the one point to Geelong while I’ve been gone, but Collingwood are starting to get on top around the ground. Still, to the Cats’ credit, they can’t capitalise on the scoreboard.
Updated
Q2 15:45 Collingwood 1.4 (10) v Geelong 2.5 (17)
Tim Kelly with an excellent banana kick from the pocket to the top of the goal square, and it’s Crameri on the end of it. He looks torn between the drop punt and snap, eventually goes for the drop punt and it goes wide. Bad miss – think he was better off going the snap as he looked more comfortable with that.
Q2 17:24 Collingwood 1.4 (10) v Geelong 2.4 (16)
Better movement from the Pies finds Moore on the wing. He drives the ball inside 50 and Mason Cox takes a NICE contested mark between Tom Stewart and Tim Kelly. He gives off to Howe, but he can’t kick the long running goal. Pies look fired up after the break.
AFL Richmond 12.10 (82) defeat North Melbourne 11.6 (72)
Looks like we’ve had another good game to round off round eight: this time the Kangaroos pushing the top-of-the-ladder Tigers right to the brink. Ben Cunnington had a massive 38 disposals for his side, with 32 contested possessions, 14 (!) clearances, seven marks and six tackles. Wow. For the Tigers, Josh Caddy had four goals and 21 disposals, while Trent Cotchin also had the ball on a string for 37 disposals, (22 contested possessions, seven clearances and a goal). Kane Lambert also booted three for the Tigers, while Atley, Brown and Wood had two each for North.
AFL quarter-time Collingwood 1.3 (9) v Geelong 2.4 (16)
Dangerfield has played largely up forward, but takes a mark down back and is clever with a long kick down the wing to his team’s advantage. Crisp, however, forces a holding the ball decision to ensure his side rebounds. This will be a win for Collingwood if Geelong don’t score again. Even better, they almost score instead, but Stewart gets one too high to end the quarter deep inside the Pies’ 50. They’ve done well to be within striking distance after they were well outplayed for most of the quarter.
AFL 02:02 Q1 Collingwood 1.2 (8) v Geelong 2.4 (16)
Pies make a meal of a rare inside 50, but they’re able to work it back inside to Tom Phillips. He’s met very heavily, and somewhat late, by Jed Bews, which looked bad live – and the umpire obliges with a 50m penalty. Pies get their first of the day to the relief of their fans.
Updated
AFL 03:23 Q1 Collingwood 0.2 (2) v Geelong 2.4 (16)
Free to Mitch Duncan as he’s pushed on the kick, so it’s down the field to Ratugolea. He’s kicked six goals from six games so far. It’s a tough angle, and he appears to shank the shot. Should really be further in front, the Cats. That’s the good news for Collingwood...
AFL 05:28 Q1 Collingwood 0.2 (2) v Geelong 2.3 (15)
Finally the Pies come to life via Treloar and then Adams in the middle. Treloar turns it over, but Adams follows up with a fierce tackle for holding the ball. The ball makes its way to Wells, but his kick is wayward.
Updated
AFL 07:25 Q1 Collingwood 0.1 (1) v Geelong 2.3 (15)
Nine inside 50s to Geelong to one for Collingwood. Also dominating the clearances – Joel Selwood has three of those. Collingwood try the patient build-up but it comes undone along the wing. It’s intercepted by Selwood, who finds Ablett who drills it to... Dangerfield! He can’t take the mark though.
11 point lead to Richmond in the other game.
Updated
AFL 10:24 Q1 Collingwood 0.1 (1) v Geelong 2.2 (14)
Nice work and composure from Dangerfield, he’s surrounded by several Pies midfielders, but shakes off the tackle and sets up Gregson from a tough angle. He can’t find the goals, but the kick-out is an errant one and Ratugolea hands off to Horlin-Smith who goals. All Gedlong at the moment.
AFL 11:40 Q1 Collingwood 0.1 (1) v Geelong 1.2 (8)
Uh oh. Lynden Dunn tries to find Steele Sidebottom to take the ball out of defence, and instead finds Jordan Cunico. He misses, however. There’s a small patch of sunlight on one side of the ground, but the rest is full shade. Looks something like this, just with less sun now.
De Goey and Brown warming up with the mids. No Wells in that group though #gopies #AFLPiesCats pic.twitter.com/gRYsvCSjbC
— Matt (@Mattys123) May 13, 2018
AFL 13:00 Q1 Collingwood 0.1 (1) v Geelong 1.1 (7)
Jackson Thurlow with the first goal of the game! Just the tenth for his career. Not sure he meant to shoot for goal – looked to try and find Ratugolea but it goes over his head and dribbles through for a goal.
Updated
AFL 13:30 Q1 Collingwood 0.1 (1) v Geelong 0.1 (1)
If anyone’s wondering I can see the score of the other game and the Tigers are up by a solitary goal! Plenty of time to go - about half-way through the final quarter.
Menegola’s lucky not to get caught for holding the ball in the Geelong forward line – Chris Mayne did well to corner him. Ablett steals the ball out of the pack on the boundary line and snaps for goal – but it’s out on the full.
AFL 15:30 Q1 Collingwood 0.1 (1) v Geelong 0.1 (1)
Sidebottom finds all sorts of space - evades about six Geelong tacklers and kicks it long to Will Hoskin-Elliot who nearly takes mark of the year. He can’t complete it however, and the ball dribbles over the line for a point.
AFL 16:55 Q1 Collingwood 0.0 (0) v Geelong 0.1 (1)
Great to see Stewart Crameri get involved early. Was sad to see him moved on from the Dogs. Credit to Geelong for getting him right. Gaz takes the mark 50m out to plenty of boos from Collingwood fans – and hits up Harry Taylor 40m out. He misses to the left.
Updated
AFL 19:19 Q1 Collingwood 0.0 (0) v Geelong 0.0 (0)
Some familiar faces get involved for Geelong early, and Ratugolea is unlucky not to get a free for too high in the forward line - doesn’t he look a player? He also gives away a free for an over-zealous tackle, but I’m a fan.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch
I know we don’t have comments on today (apologies, email me if you want to discuss!) but you can always tweet or email me and I’ll try to respond. I know you’d rather talk to each other than me, but consolation prize..!
Here we go, game on.
Gaz is back
Geelong fans – are you happy to see Gablett Jnr back? Not sure Geelong have played to capacity this season – particularly given how well they’ve recruited and drafted (yet again – see Tim Kelly for instance!) They’re just about due for a breakout game.
.@GaryAblettJnr chats to @DaisyPearce6 ahead of his first game back since Round 3. #AFLPiesCats pic.twitter.com/jiXSib6J0K
— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 13, 2018
Meanwhile, Collingwood’s cheer squad continue to out-do themselves this year.
This is true #FOREVER pic.twitter.com/zbTbqPgG57
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) May 13, 2018
Updated
Home advantage?
Some (under the guise of the “AFL Fixture Department”) clearly aren’t happy with the scheduling of Geelong’s clashes with Collingwood.
It's a testament to the fairness of the competition that 0 of the last 28 games between Collingwood and Geelong have been in Geelong. #AFLPiesCats
— AFL Fixture Department (@aflfixturedept) May 13, 2018
Updated
AFL three-quarter-time North Melbourne 9.3 (57) v Richmond 9.7 (61)
Great quarter from the Kangas who kicked four of the last five goals of the quarter to reel in the Tigers. They’re now in striking distance of another shock victory. Can we say we’re surprised by the Kangaroos’ form anymore?
Ben Cunnington is leading the way for his side with 30 disposals (23 contested and nine clearances). For Richmond, Nick Vlaustin has 22 disposals (8 contested, 10 marks and 6 tackles).
Welcome
Hello everyone and welcome to this live blog of the Mother’s Day clash between Collingwood and Geelong. We’ve already had some excellent games this round: the showdown between Port Adelaide v Adelaide probably the highlight, closely followed by Hawthorn v Sydney. Currently we also have a very tight tussle between the Kangaroos and Tigers unfolding, so we’ll hope this one lives up to expectations.
Late change: Collingwood have withdrawn captain Scott Pendlebury. Don’t think anyone’s very surprised by that one. Gary Ablett of course returns to the Geelong side, and is a big plus given Tom Hawkins is out for making contact with an umpire last week.
Jamie Elliot has also reportedly re-done his hamstring in the VFL, so that’s very bad news for the Pies.
I’ll come back to you shortly with an update on North Melbourne v Richmond!
Kate will be here shortly. In the meantime have a read Craig Little’s latest column on recent discussion around the state of the game.
